Explosive shell



(No Model.)

W. T. CHAMBERLAIN. EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

No. 312,705. Patented Feb. 24, 1885.

d WITNESSES:

I I I 4kg? BY 51%;.

: TORNEY.

' exposing the cap eated. adjacent to thecap-nipple a, so as to be UN TED STA ES WILLIAM '1. cnA'MnnnnAiN, or THIRDS To BENJAMIN N ORW'ICH CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF TW'O- M. PRINCE, OF-

SAME PLACE, AND VILLIAM onossLnr, or RANDOLPH, ltlASSACH-USETTS.

:VEXPLOSIVE SHELL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,705, dated February 24, 1885. Application filed May 28, 1884. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: p I Be it known that I, XVILLIAM T. CHAM- BERLAIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norwich, in the county of New London, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Explosive Shells, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying I drawings, in which Figure l is a longitudinal section of a shell I embodying my in view of the base portlon of the shell, the sabot or pad and end block being moved around,, and the vent-screw. Fig. 3 is an end view of the base portion of the shell, showing the fuse-chamber, the closing section or cap thereof being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a shell employing dynamite as an explosive, the construction and operation being hereinafter fully set forth. Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of a shell, and B the base thereof, the latter being hollow and containing the fuse C, one end whereof passes through the base into {ha chamber of the shell,.and the other is loignited when the cap is struck. Projecting rearward from the base is a pin, D, which is located eccentric thereon and enters an opening ina sabot or pad, E, of felt or other suitable soft fabric or material,whereby said pad is re tained in position on the'base.

F represents a block or plug which carries a firing-pin, G, the same being passed through the pad E and adapted to strike the cap on the nipple a. Within the chamber of the shellis ablock, H, of dynamite, which is incased in cotton or other suitable non-explosive material, forming a cushion around the same for preventing premature discharge of the dynamite by concussion. It will be seen that arm, so that the when the shell is discharged from a fire-armthe pin D causes the cap to ignite the fuse, and when the shell reaches its destination the fire of the fuse reaches the block H, causing the explosion of the same, and consequent bursting of the shell. The base Bis made in sections b b, which may be separated in order to provide access to the fuse-chamber in the base for timing the fuse, &c. When the sections are fitted together, they are held closed by means of pins 0, which are passed through the flange of one section into the neck of the other section. In the base B is an opening, d, forming a vent which is closed by a screw or cap, (1, the latter being removed prior to the insertiou'of the shell in the firevent is uncovered for the Owing to the eccentric 10c]- D the pad Emay be rotated burning fuse. tion of the pin thereon, so as to expose the cap-nipple and vent in the base for applying a cap or fulminate to said nipple, and removing the screw or plug from said vent, it being noticed that the pad may be readily restored, so as to cover the cap and vent, and said'pad and the block form continnations of the base of the shell. The block may be prevented from rotating onthe pin D by means of another pin, a, passed centrally through the block into the pad. When the shell is dischar ed, the pad E, owing to its flexible or elastic nature, acts as a cushion for preventing the shock from being injuriously communicated to the dynamitechamber and causing action of the firing-pin unfailingly against the cap or fulininate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Thebody of a shell containing an explo sive, and a hollow or perforated base con nected with said body having a fuse-chamber, said base being formed in sections, one section carrying a nipple and provided with a flange whereby by means of the fasteningpin 0 the sections are connected, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A shell havinga block of dynamite within its. body, the same being incased in nonexplosive material, a base connected with said body having. a fuse-chamber, a fuse-opening, and a nipple, and a plug connected base having a firing-pin, for the purpose setforth.

3. A shell having a nipple on its base, in combination with a sabot connected theresubstantially as and with the.

with by the eccentrically-arranged pin D, and

the pin a, said sabot having a firing-pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A shell having in its base a fuse-cham- 5 her, a nipple-,and vent, in combination with a nected-with the base by an eccentrically-ar-' ranged pin, substantially as and for the purose set forth. 1o 5. An explosive shell having a fuse-chamher and a cap or fnlminate-holder, a sabot or pad of .flexible material connected with the base of the shell,-and a block carrying the firing-pin secured to said pad, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth. sabot covering said nipple d Venttandvcom i WILLIAM T. CHAMBERLAIN.

' Witnesses:

JOHN A.WIEDERSHEIM-,

A. P. GRANT. 

